Caffeinated Politics

Obama’s Name Dropping

Obama’s Name Dropping

Usually people when they name drop they drop another person’s name into a conversation.  Not so with our President.  President Obama’s staff has dropped his name into former Presidents’ official biographies at Whitehouse.gov.  The Obama administration has added bullet points to every President’s biography since Calvin Coolidge with the exception of the late President Jimmy [...]

Obama’s Losing to Romney Among Women; Same Sex Marriage a Losing Issue

Obama’s Losing to Romney Among Women; Same Sex Marriage a Losing Issue

I’ll preface any comments I make about the CBS poll that was just released today that it is early and could change, but I found it very interesting especially after Democrats have accused Republicans for declaring a war on women.  Not only is Mitt Romney leading President Barack Obama among all voters 46% to 43%, [...]

Tony Evans on Obama’s Same Sex Marriage Endorsement

Tony Evans on Obama’s Same Sex Marriage Endorsement

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien recently interviewed Dr. Tony Evans who is the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX.  He also is President of The Urban Alternative.  I found this interview to be interesting because I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him interviewed on cultural issues such as President Barack Obama’s recent endorsement [...]

Fear of Obama vs. Hope in God

Fear of Obama vs. Hope in God

Admit it. Many of you are afraid we will get four more years of Barack Obama. You think he will steal the Republic and make himself King. Some of you think he already has. You’ve seen government grow and grow and grow and believe that Obama’s coup is just around the corner, immediately following a [...]

When Offending Others Becomes Criminal

When Offending Others Becomes Criminal

Jonathan Turley, a professor of public interest law at George Washington University, wrote an op/ed earlier this week that I think is spot on for the most part.  He expressed concern over the increasing criminalization of certain kinds of speech.  He wrote: Magisterial District Judge Mark Martin was hearing a case in which an irate [...]

Health Care and the Problem of Overdiagnosis

Health Care and the Problem of Overdiagnosis

By John Hendrickson As the future of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) awaits its judgment by the United States Supreme Court, policymakers and individuals need to begin looking at different policies and ideas to not only reduce the cost of health care, but also improve the quality of service. In Over-Diagnosed: Making [...]

Culture Cafe

South Carolina Moves to Protect Infants Born Alive

South Carolina Moves to Protect Infants Born Alive

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina House voted today 107-0 to require protection for infants born alive as a result of a failed abortion attempt. The bill, based on Americans United for Life’s (AUL) model language, previously passed the Senate 27-3. It now will go through a third reading and then on to Governor Nikki [...]

Christian Rhetoric and Engagement in “Culture Wars”

Christian Rhetoric and Engagement in “Culture Wars”

Personally I hate the term “culture wars,”  I’m not at war with those whom I disagree.  I am not battling with those with opposing yard signs or who vote differently than I do.  I can resonate to a point with younger evangelicals’ tiredness of such rhetoric even if I don’t agree with their response.  I [...]

Charlotte Lozier Institute Unveils New Website

Charlotte Lozier Institute Unveils New Website

Washington, D.C. – Today the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the education and research arm of Susan B. Anthony List, unveiled its new web site at www.lozierinstitute.org.  The web site will be a hub for research and public policy analysis on some of the most pressing issues facing the United States and nations around the world. The [...]

Politicians Play “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose”

Politicians Play “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose”

No one likes to lose, even at Tic-Tac-Toe or flipping a coin. The phrase, “Heads I win, tails you lose,” describes those who attempt to use trickery to prevent losing to their opponents. It also illustrates the politicians’ current attempts to frame issues to assure that their positions will win. Presently, debate rages over wealth [...]

Motherhood: The Common Thread of Our American Quilt

Motherhood: The Common Thread of Our American Quilt

Since I was a young girl I have loved to sew. Much like my other interests, sewing is something that relaxes me. I learned how to in Girl Scouts and in fact I earned a badge for sewing, which I promptly sewed onto my Girl Scout uniform sash by hand. I still sew most things [...]

Iowa Right to Life Legislative Wrap-up

Iowa Right to Life Legislative Wrap-up

By Eric Goranson & Norm Pawlewski The Iowa House Republicans were unable to convince Democrats in the Senate to support the Sweeney Amendment. This amendment would have ended taxpayer funded abortions in Iowa and prioritized family planning funds to ensure comprehensive health care providers were funded to the fullest extent possible. Iowa Right to Life [...]

Caffeinated Christianity

Christian Rhetoric and Engagement in “Culture Wars”

Christian Rhetoric and Engagement in “Culture Wars”

Personally I hate the term “culture wars,”  I’m not at war with those whom I disagree.  I am not battling with those with opposing yard signs or who vote differently than I do.  I can resonate to a point with younger evangelicals’ tiredness of such rhetoric even if I don’t agree with their response.  I [...]

Fear of Obama vs. Hope in God

Fear of Obama vs. Hope in God

Admit it. Many of you are afraid we will get four more years of Barack Obama. You think he will steal the Republic and make himself King. Some of you think he already has. You’ve seen government grow and grow and grow and believe that Obama’s coup is just around the corner, immediately following a [...]

Bachmann Breaks FAMiLY Leader Vow Made Before God, Endorses Romney. Will Santorum Follow Suit?

Bachmann Breaks FAMiLY Leader Vow Made Before God, Endorses Romney. Will Santorum Follow Suit?

  Back in July, I challenged Christians and other Republicans to ask Michelle Bachmann and Rick Santorum whether they would actually keep the FAMiLY Leader vow they made before God not to endorse or support any GOP candidates who did not make the vow, such as Mitt Romney. Here is the vow that citizens were [...]

Are We Really Less Caring & Compassionate?

Are We Really Less Caring & Compassionate?

Science Daily posted this just the other day: Highly Religious People Are Less Motivated by Compassion Than Are Non-Believers While my response is neither based upon recent research nor scientific data, I wonder if this only paints the #27 in a Paint-By-Number portrait, leaving out all the primary colors and majority of larger spaces for [...]

Republicans Encouraging GOP Voters to Vote Twice for Romney? (Why Once is One Too Many)

Republicans Encouraging GOP Voters to Vote Twice for Romney? (Why Once is One Too Many)

People say this to me all the time (well, not all the time): Not voting for Mitt Romney for U.S. president is really voting for Barack Obama; that is, staying home on election day (or voting a third party) counts as a vote for Obama. Where does this idea come from? Let’s turn it around a moment. [...]

Cult is the Wrong Word to Describe Mormonism.

Cult is the Wrong Word to Describe Mormonism.

Mormonism is in the news like never before. The third biggest talker in the Land, Glenn Beck is a Mormon. The presumed GOP nominee for president, Mitt Romney is a Mormon. One of his potential running mates, Marco Rubio, used to be a Mormon, before converting to Catholicism. Many Christians through the years have designated [...]

Caffeinated States

South Carolina Moves to Protect Infants Born Alive

South Carolina Moves to Protect Infants Born Alive

COLUMBIA, SC – The South Carolina House voted today 107-0 to require protection for infants born alive as a result of a failed abortion attempt. The bill, based on Americans United for Life’s (AUL) model language, previously passed the Senate 27-3. It now will go through a third reading and then on to Governor Nikki [...]

The FAMiLY LEADER Endorses Pro-Family Candidates for Iowa Republican Primary

The FAMiLY LEADER Endorses Pro-Family Candidates for Iowa Republican Primary

Pleasant Hill, Iowa. – The FAMiLY LEADER announces their endorsements of nine pro-family, pro-constitutional candidates for the June 5th Iowa Republican primary. The following new candidates have secured the endorsement of The FAMiLY LEADER because of their proven ability to lead and stand firm for constitutional, conservative pro-family principles. Joan Acela:  House District 25 Dennis [...]

Rand Paul at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kickoff

Rand Paul at the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition Spring Kickoff

U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the keynote speaker at Friday night’s Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition’s Annual Spring Kickoff.  Here is video of his speech courtesy of The Iowa Republican: Here is part one: Here is part two:

Iowa Right to Life Legislative Wrap-up

Iowa Right to Life Legislative Wrap-up

By Eric Goranson & Norm Pawlewski The Iowa House Republicans were unable to convince Democrats in the Senate to support the Sweeney Amendment. This amendment would have ended taxpayer funded abortions in Iowa and prioritized family planning funds to ensure comprehensive health care providers were funded to the fullest extent possible. Iowa Right to Life [...]

North Carolina Becomes the 31st State to Pass a Marriage Amendment

North Carolina Becomes the 31st State to Pass a Marriage Amendment

When the people have the chance to vote on marriage, they have voted in favor of preserving traditional marriage every time.  An overwhelming majority, 61% to 39%  voted in favor of amending the North Carolina Constitution to make marriage between a man and a woman as  the “only domestic legal union that shall be valid [...]

The Iowa Department of Public Defense Continues to Stonewall

The Iowa Department of Public Defense Continues to Stonewall

I wanted to provide a follow-up on the story I wrote last week about the Iowa Department of Public Defense ignoring Iowa’s Open Records Laws.  My friend Darwin had applied to be an installation security officer at Camp Dodge.  Darwin is a seven year veteran of the United States Army, he is a disabled Iraq [...]

Current Events Coffee Shop

Tony Evans on Obama’s Same Sex Marriage Endorsement

Tony Evans on Obama’s Same Sex Marriage Endorsement

CNN’s Soledad O’Brien recently interviewed Dr. Tony Evans who is the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, TX.  He also is President of The Urban Alternative.  I found this interview to be interesting because I don’t believe I’ve ever seen him interviewed on cultural issues such as President Barack Obama’s recent endorsement [...]

Catholic Georgetown University Invites Kathleen Sebelius to Speak

Catholic Georgetown University Invites Kathleen Sebelius to Speak

Vox Populi, the staff blog of the Georgetown Voice announced those who will be speaking at Georgetown University’s commencement exercises.  Way down in the list you see… “Former governor of Kansas and current secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, will be addressing the Georgetown Public Policy Institute.” It raises your [...]

Traffic Cameras: Safety or Cash?

Traffic Cameras: Safety or Cash?

Though his efforts did not succeed in banning traffic cameras from Iowa (“Two Decisions Made in Favor of Mobile Speed Cameras“), at least State Senator Brad Zaun of Urbandale had the courage to say that traffic  cameras can increase revenue, but not necessarily safety.  We’ve been down a similar path before, when cameras were added [...]

Dan Savage the “Anti-Bullying” Bully

Dan Savage the “Anti-Bullying” Bully

In case you haven’t see this here is the video of the speech that the “anti-bullying” advocate Dan Savage gave at the National High School Journalism Conference sponsored by the Journalism Education Association and the National Scholastic Press association.  He was supposed to give a talk on bullying, but CitizenLink reports students were given an [...]

Conservative Charity vs Liberal Government

Conservative Charity vs Liberal Government

Republicans want to kill grandma. Republicans want to kill sick people. Republicans want poor people to starve and die. Republicans want blacks dead or enslaved. Republicans want hispanics imprisoned or gone. Republicans want the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Republicans want to poison the water and destroy the land and [...]

John Edwards’ Trial Starts Today

John Edwards’ Trial Starts Today

Former Senator, Vice Presidential Nominee and Presidential candidate John Edwards (D-NC) goes on trial today.  The federal government alleges that Edwards “knowingly and willfully” received nearly $1 million in illegal campaign contributions to hide his mistress, Rielle Hunter, who was pregnant with his child from the public so he could continue on with his presidential [...]

Education Espresso

ALEC Delays Vote on Anti-Common Core Model Resolution

ALEC Delays Vote on Anti-Common Core Model Resolution

I’m not surprised, but disappointed by the American Legislative Exchange Council executive board decision yesterday to delay their vote on a anti-common core resolution proposed by the American Principles Project, Goldwater Institute, and Washington Policy Center last summer. American Principles Project sent out a press release on the vote: Washington, DC – Today, the board [...]

Six Problems with the Common Core State Standards Initiative

Six Problems with the Common Core State Standards Initiative

With Jane Robbins (below is an executive summary of a white paper written by Jane Robbins and myself) The American Legislative Exchange Council’s Public Sector Board of Directors must decide whether to uphold the Education Task Force’s approval of the Comprehensive Legislative Package Opposing the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The Task Force’s public-sector members [...]

The Iowa Department of Education Wants to Hear From You

The Iowa Department of Education Wants to Hear From You

Well sort of… the Iowa Department of Education desires your feedback provided that you are a teacher, administrator or some other school employee.  Apparently a parent (or even a student) is not considered a “customer.”  They do list an “other” option for the first question that asks “please choose the option that best describes your [...]

Branstad’s Education Bill: Dead or Mostly Dead?

Branstad’s Education Bill: Dead or Mostly Dead?

Jason Noble of The Des Moines Register reports that Iowa Governor Terry Branstad suggested that Iowa Senate Democrats among others could face political fallout because of their opposition to elements of his K-12 education reform bill.  I highly doubt it.  Branstad was brought into office mainly because of former Governor Chet Culver’s inability to govern, [...]

Sarah Palin Was a Prophet About Obama’s Education Takeover

Sarah Palin Was a Prophet About Obama’s Education Takeover

By Maggie Gallagher Sarah Palin was the first to recognize the problem: By participating in President Obama’s signature education initiative, Race to the Top which pushed the Common Core standards, Alaska would lose control over its own curriculum. On May 31, 2009, then-Gov. Palin announced Alaska would adopt a “watch and wait” attitude: “If this [...]

Iowa Association of Christian Schools: Action Needed on Education Reform Bill

Iowa Association of Christian Schools: Action Needed on Education Reform Bill

Below is an action alert from the Iowa Association of Christian Schools: Both legislative chambers have passed their own version of Senate File 2284, the education reform bill. The bill has been sent to a conference committee to work out a final bill which will be voted on with no amendments. Many provisions affect non-public [...]